Vancouver Sun: Anglican splinter group to welcome South American primate

Posted by Kendall Harmon

As a global battle pits senior Anglicans against each other, more than 300 conservative Christians who have broken from the Anglican Church of Canada will gather at an evangelical church in Delta on Friday to welcome their new leader, South American Anglican Archbishop Gregory Venables.

The meeting takes place the same week 11 Anglican Church of Canada clergy in Greater Vancouver resigned from the denomination to serve under the authority of the South American primate, who was asked this week by Canadian Primate Fred Hiltz not to intervene in his jurisdiction.

The gathering of the Anglican Network in Canada Friday and Saturday at South Delta Baptist Church includes 15 congregations, eight from B.C., that have severed ties with the 700,000-member Anglican Church of Canada.

To be fair #2, the quote in question is from the dean of Christ Church Cathedral.

I wrote to Mr. Todd yesterday pointing out the one-sidedness of his earlier piece and he politely acknowledged my e-mail without indicating whether he agreed or disagreed. The tone of today’s piece is rather better, however, which suggests the value of pointing out that, thanks to T19, articles such as this are being read far and wide.

Eight congregations (parishes?) in the greater Vanc. area that have departed, but only 300 people from those eight? I think that was about the same number of people that gathered in Hanford, Calif., for the meeting of those in San Joaquin who wanted to remain in TEC, and whose number was so derided on this site.

The Anglican Church in Canada is very small indeed…but no one knows how small as the ACC hasn’t published numbers since 2001. The “breakaway” Network has a combined average Sunday attendance of 2550. That makes it a group with a larger ASA than 12 Diocese in the Anglican Church of Canada had in 2001. (there are 30 Diocese in all) Plus the 2001 numbers still include the network churches as no one left until 2002.
The conference is being really well attended. Remember a lot of the Vancouver parishioners didn’t come Friday as they were at work! It is really a wonderful meeting and we are so grateful to God and Abp. Venables!